If there's one thing we've learned over the past two years of film and television, it's that audiences are doubling down to watch a steamy romance. Whether it was Luca Guadagnino's tennis thruple in Challengers or Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson's power play in A24's Babygirl – nothing is off limits for exploration in film or television.
And so it only makes sense that HBO's latest hit is Heated Rivalry a competitors-to-lovers drama about two championship ice hockey players whose rivalry on the rink segues into a intense romance in secret – navigating fame and homophobia – would be the next hit on our hands. But if you've already zoomed through all six episodes of Season 1 (and can't simply wait with bated breath for the newly announced season two), then we've got you covered with 12 TV shows to watch in the meantime to fill the void of steamy, sporty, queer romances.
1. Olympo
Where to stream: Netflix
Set at an elite Olympic training center, Olympo follows hyper-disciplined young athletes whose lives revolve around winning at any cost. As rivalries intensify, so do secret relationships, exposing just how thin the line is between obsession, desire, and self-destruction.
2. Sex/Life
Where to stream: Netflix
Sarah Shahi stars as Billie, a suburban wife and mother who can’t stop fantasising about her wildly intoxicating ex, Brad. The show thrives on the tension between the life she chose and the desire she can’t outrun – and it’s unapologetically steamy about it.
3. My Stubborn
Where to stream: iQIYI
This slow-burn romance follows a guarded, emotionally rigid lead whose carefully controlled world is disrupted by someone who refuses to give up on him. What starts as friction slowly turns into intimacy, with plenty of yearning looks and reluctant confessions along the way.
4. Spinning Out
Where to stream: Netflix
Kaya Scodelario plays Kat, a gifted figure skater whose Olympic dreams are complicated by bipolar disorder and a dangerous on-ice partnership. Between the pressure from her ruthless mother and a messy romance with fellow skater Justin, everything threatens to spiral off balance.
5. Love, Victor
Where to stream: Disney+
Victor arrives at Creekwood High hoping for a fresh start, but quickly realises figuring out who you are is anything but simple. It's a pretty classic coming-of-age story that explores themes of sexuality and acceptance within a Latinx family.
6. Young Royals
Where to stream: Netflix
When Prince Wilhelm is sent to Hillerska boarding school, he never expects to fall for Simon, a scholarship student with no interest in royal rules. Their romance is intimate and intense, made even more painful by secrets, public scrutiny, and impossible expectations.
7. Red, White & Royal Blue
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
What begins as a PR-mandated truce between Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry quickly turns into flirtation – and then full-blown smutty secret romance. The stakes rise as their relationship threatens to upend both international politics and their own carefully crafted public images.
8. Heartstopper
Where to stream: Netflix
Kit Connor's career was off to a rocketing start at the helm of this ongoing Netflix series. Charlie and Nick’s story starts with a simple classroom seating plan and slowly grows into something life-changing. It’s all about stolen glances, and the realisation that love doesn’t always have to hurt to be powerful.
9. Queer as Folk (US version)
Where to stream: Paramount+
Set in New Orleans, the series follows a tight-knit group of queer friends whose lives are shaken after a traumatic event at a nightclub. Love, sex, and community become acts of survival as the characters navigate grief and desire.
10. The L Word
Where to stream: Stan
This iconic series tracks the messy, intertwined lives of Bette, Tina, Shane, Alice, and their wider circle in Los Angeles. Equal parts glamorous and chaotic, it’s about love affairs, breakups, and the drama that comes with keeping everything in the family.
11. All American
Where to stream: Stan
Spencer James is a rising football star pulled between his South Central roots and a wealthy Beverly Hills team. Alongside the sports drama, his relationships – especially with Olivia – explore identity, ambition, and what it costs to chase greatness.
12. Friday Night Lights
Where to stream: BINGE and Foxtel Now
A classic for a reason. At its heart, this is as much about relationships as it is about football, especially the marriage between Coach Eric Taylor and Tami. Against the backdrop of Friday night footy games, we get a look into some pretty complex lives, relationships and issues like class and race.
Looking for more erotica or yearning? Check out our list of the best erotic films to watch, or our list of 10 movies that are full of yearning.
